Grounds for Play

Grounds for Play from Becca Clay on Vimeo.

Not super eventful as far as video's go. Sorry for the amatuer hour camera work. Thats what I get for multi-tasking. Regardless, enjoy!

Dancing fool

This video is a little pixilated, but the content more than makes up for the quality. Trust me.

Untitled from Becca Clay on Vimeo.

Obedience

For the record, the 2's were not terrible, they were fantastic. So far, the 3's are tricky still great, but tricky. Jaxon is certainly exercising his free will, at almost every juncture. Don't get me wrong he's not a terror, just a strong willed kid, with a big vocabulary and tons of energy.

I've been pretty stumped because I don't have lots of time with Jaxon like other moms,and I felt like I was constantly disciplining him when I was with him. However I also know this time of his life is crucial, in establishing obedience and good behavior. A slippery slope I found myself heading down was the bribing. (Parenting tricks like if you do this you can have a treat, or watch a show) He started to make deals about everything, and quickly expect a payoff. All of this information could probably have been found in a tidy little parenting book, but I've been in the trenches, finding out the hard way.

Thinking back to training dogs, with positive reinforcement rather than fear of discpline or consequence, I worked up this chart hoping to positively reinforce good behavior. I took Jaxon to the store and let him pick out any stickers he wanted. (yes we came back with trucks and hearts) He can score a few stickers in each category each day (be nice to your sister, eat your food, pick up your toys, brush your teeth, and go to bed) He is going to be able to turn in his stickers for trips to the dino museum, zoo, aquarium or explora. (yes I'm sneaking in some learning as a reward) Muahhaha!!!!

Any moms that have any other tips from the front lines, feel free to share. Come to think of it I should probably join some sort of mom group to discuss these things, but that would cut into family time so its a no.

Durango!!!

We took a trip to Durango this week. Mostly to relax and recover from all the craziness that December brought. Also to celebrate Bridget's 1st Birthday!! We enjoyed the snow (Jason went skiing and we all went sledding) some shopping and some great family time. Jax didn't ski this trip, but will hit the ski school at Sandia Peak next month.

I'm convinced Bridget will be more amused by the snow next year... For now she will remain a snow-bunny and would prefer to sip hot chocolate by the fire in the lodge.

Jaxon was a sledding trooper. After a big crash where he met the snow face first he was writhing on the ground. In between moans he said "Ohhhhh, Can I do it again!?! Ohhhhhhhh"

Jaxon got his own sofa bed which he immediatly jumped on and Bridget had a pack n'play.

Jaxon got to spend his dollar he'd been saving at the candy store. It took him a while to make a decision. (or to understand why a dollar can't buy everything)

We went out for a big dinner and ordered a mint ice cream cake for desert in celebration of Bridget's 1st year. The kids dug right in.

Quite the Snazzy Dresser

Jaxon marched in the office tonight to announce that he is ready. If you can't tell from the picture he put on his snowboots, bathing suit, a backpack and of course his hat. Ready for anything.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirates Life for Me!

Here are the pictures of Jaxon's 3rd Birthday party. It was a Swashbuckling Good Time!!
I got a lot of fantastic ideas from here

This was the invitation hand delivered to most of the Crew of the Adventurer.

X Marks the spot...

When the kids arrived they were Pirate-ed at the Bucaneer Outifitters. My sister Heidi dressed the pirates in the finest gear on the highseas. Including tattoos, eyepatches, bandanas, earings and hooks.

Some adults surprised me and came in their best Pirate Gear, ready to sail!!

Two sweet little Pirate Maidens...

The crew of the Adventurer feasted on fish sticks, goldfish and toasted with Scurvey Punch (Pineapple juice, orange juice and 7up) with a little Rum for the adults.

After the feast, the little pirates each picked out their treasure chests (old cigar boxes we had picked up at a cigar store for $1 each) and their names were put on them.

The Pirate Dad (Jason) did an amazing job constructing The Pirate Ship Adventure out of Cardboard. This was truely the hit of the party. The kids LOVED it. It had a cabin in the back with a seat and a window to spy out of, a folding plank for the crew to enter/exit on, cannons out the side that fired cannon balls (black ping pong balls), a mast with 2 sails, and of course it flew the Jolly Roger proudly from the top.

The Treasure chest was "buried" in the front yard and the kids found it (3 is still a little too young for an offical treasure hunt with a map) and the hangman strung it up for the pirates to take whacks at. I made the treasure chest out of a styrafoam cooler and paper mache. (on the cheap- Take that Party City!!)

When the tresure chest was finally opened gold coins, jewels candy and spiders were inside, they placed their treasure in their indivdual chests to take home!!

Next there was mutiny on the 7 Seas, and the Pirates were forced to walk the plank!!

And of course every birthday party has to have cake. I made mine nice and simple, out of the box, and stuck pirate flags on top. (He is 3!!! And since none of them are gourmet critics, they have no way of knowing that I made nothing from scratch)

Before you start thinking that we as a parents went WAY overboard and spoiled our kid. Remember, I work 40+ hours a week, I don't home school my kids, I don't make my own baby food, I don't even sew on buttons (I pay the dry cleaner to do it) so I felt justified in indulging in a little Birthday party glory. Besides I know for a fact, having your birthday in December, usually you end up getting a little ripped off. Who's to say this won't be his only fantastic Birthday part for til his *Sweet Sixteen* (where we buy him a convertible BMW, and he throws a tantrum because its the wrong color...;-)

*A special thanks to "Uncle" Matt for taking all these pictures, because there is no way I would have been able to in all the pirate chaos!!!!

Bon Appitite!

Jason: Hey Jaxon, you want to help me stir this soup?
Jaxon: Okay! I'll go get my chef hat!!

Disclaimer: the burner was not on yet. No need to call child protective services.

Video Killed the Radio Star

Action Jaxon's Swimming Adventure from Becca Clay on Vimeo.

Jaxon the Puddle Hopper from Becca Clay on Vimeo.

Side Walk Chalk

$2.00 in side walk chalk occupied us for hours today. I think Jaxon was amazed that we were drawing on something other than paper. Fortunately the weather was beautiful and we were able to avoid the oncoming case of cabin fever and get outside to enjoy it.

Bridget is getting more alert and aware everyday. She is one month old now and we love having her around. She is such a mellow baby!!!

Madagascar 3?

We bought a season pass to the Zoo, Botanic Gardens and Aquarium. So thats pretty much what my life will be consisting of. Today, Jaxon and I packed up a picnic and went to the zoo. It will go down in my history as one of the best days ever. We feasted on an assorment of berries & kiwi, crackers & cheese then topped it off by sharing an ice cream cone. We still saw plenty of animals not sleeping even though it was the middle of the day.
Jaxon is really perfecting his animals noises and expanding his range. Looking at the animals through his eyes brings me a whole new level of appreciation. Everytime we go he gets a big kick out of different animals. This time the favorites were the prarie dogs, seals, and the toucans. Enjoy the montage of photos and the video of Jaxon's latest impression.